Vertical cable rail barrier

Abstract

A barrier panel is formed of a first rail member and a second rail member with at least one vertical support member mounted to and extending between the first rail member and second rail member. The first rail member includes first openings spaced apart along its length. The second rail member includes second openings spaced apart along its length. Vertical cables are mounted to and extend between the first rail member and second rail member. A first end of each vertical cable is secured within one of the first openings and a second end of each vertical cable is secured within an opposite one of the second openings. End members configured to adjust tension in the vertical cables are concealed by a pair of leg members of the second rail member.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vertical cable rail panel, comprising:
 a top rail comprising a cap member coupled to a top web member, the top web member defining a plurality of top through holes spaced apart along the top web member and the top rail having a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end; 
 a bottom rail defining a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end, the bottom rail comprising a bottom web portion and a pair of bottom leg portions, the bottom web portion and the pair of bottom leg portions forming a channel, the bottom web portion defining a plurality of bottom through holes spaced apart along the bottom web portion and aligned with the plurality of top through holes; 
 an internal member disposed within the channel and defining a bearing surface spaced apart from the bottom web portion and further defining a bottom opening having at least one flat side, the internal member being secured to inner surfaces of the channel; 
 a rigid support member vertically extending between the top rail and the bottom rail and disposed between the first end of the top rail and the second end of the top rail; 
 a vertical cable comprising a cable member, a top hollow tubular member, and a bottom hollow tubular member, the vertical cable disposed adjacent the rigid support member and having a top end and a bottom end disposed opposite the top end, the top end of the vertical cable extending through one of the plurality of top through holes, and the bottom end of the vertical cable extending through the bottom opening and extending through one of the plurality of bottom through holes disposed in vertical alignment with the one top through hole; 
 wherein the top hollow tubular member is swaged to the cable member and at least a portion of the top hollow tubular member being larger in size than the one top through hole such that the vertical cable is maintained through the one top through hole; 
 wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is swaged to the cable member; 
 a nut coupled to the bottom hollow tubular member, the nut being larger in size than the bottom opening, wherein adjusting the nut adjusts a tension in the vertical cable, a bearing surface of the nut contacting the bearing surface of the internal member; and 
 wherein each of the first and second ends of the top rail and the bottom rail are configured to be received by respective brackets. 
 
     
     
       2. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 1  wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a threaded member, the threaded member being sized to fit through the bottom opening, the bottom hollow tubular member having a flat surface, the nut in threaded engagement with the threaded member. 
     
     
       3. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 1  wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a threaded swage fitting, the threaded swage fitting including a threaded member, the threaded member being sized to fit through the bottom opening, the threaded swage fitting having a flat surface, the nut in threaded engagement with the threaded member. 
     
     
       4. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 1  wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a bottom cable fitting further comprising a shank member, the shank member having a square outer shape and each of the plurality of bottom through holes is square shaped. 
     
     
       5. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 1  wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a bottom cable fitting further comprising a shank member, the shank member being integral with a threaded member. 
     
     
       6. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 1  wherein at least one end of the rigid support member includes a threaded opening, and further including a threaded connector configured to engage with the threaded opening and mount the at least one end of the rigid support member to either the top rail or the bottom rail. 
     
     
       7. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 1  wherein the top hollow tubular member extends through the one top through hole and the bottom hollow tubular member extends through the one bottom through hole. 
     
     
       8. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 1  wherein the internal member comprises a U-shaped channel member. 
     
     
       9. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 1  wherein the top rail comprises a U-shaped channel member. 
     
     
       10. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 1  wherein the internal member is welded to the inner surfaces of the channel. 
     
     
       11. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 1  wherein the internal member includes an internal web member and a pair of opposed internal leg members extending from the internal web member. 
     
     
       12. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 1  wherein the top hollow tubular member is a portion of a top cable fitting further comprising a ball larger in size than the one top through hole. 
     
     
       13. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 1  wherein the internal member comprises an angled tab. 
     
     
       14. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 1  wherein the cap member comprises a base member and an ornamental member secured to the base member. 
     
     
       15. The vertical cable rail panel of  claim 14  wherein the base member is a U-shaped channel member. 
     
     
       16. A method of forming a barrier, comprising:
 positioning a first post spaced apart from a second post and a third post spaced apart from the second post; 
 supporting a first vertical cable panel with the first and second posts; 
 supporting a second vertical cable panel with the second and third posts; 
 wherein each of the first and second vertical cable panels, comprises:
 a top rail comprising a top web member defining a plurality of top through holes spaced apart along the top web member and the top rail having a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end; 
 a bottom rail defining a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end, the bottom rail comprising a bottom web portion and a pair of bottom leg portions, the bottom web portion and the pair of bottom leg portions forming a channel, the bottom web portion defining a plurality of bottom through holes spaced apart along the bottom web portion and aligned with the plurality of top through holes; 
 an internal member disposed within the channel and defining a bearing surface spaced apart from the bottom web portion and further defining a bottom opening having at least one flat side, the internal member being secured to inner surfaces of the channel; 
 a rigid support member vertically extending between the top rail and the bottom rail and disposed between the first end of the top rail and the second end of the top rail; 
 a vertical cable comprising a cable member, a top hollow tubular member, and a bottom hollow tubular member, the vertical cable disposed adjacent the rigid support member and having a top end and a bottom end disposed opposite the top end, the top end of the vertical cable extending through one of the plurality of top through holes, and the bottom end of the vertical cable extending through the bottom opening and extending through one of the plurality of bottom through holes disposed in vertical alignment with the one top through hole; 
 wherein the top hollow tubular member is swaged to the cable member and at least a portion of the top hollow tubular member being larger in size than the one top through hole such that the vertical cable is maintained through the one top through hole; 
 wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is swaged to the cable member; 
 a nut coupled to the bottom hollow tubular member, the nut being larger in size than the bottom opening, wherein adjusting the nut adjusts a tension in the vertical cable, a bearing surface of the nut contacting the bearing surface of the internal member; and 
 wherein each of the first and second ends of the top rail and the bottom rail are configured to be received by respective brackets. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein the top rail further comprises a cap member coupled to the top web member. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16  wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a threaded member, the threaded member being sized to fit through the bottom opening, the bottom hollow tubular member having a flat surface, the nut in threaded engagement with the threaded member. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16  wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a threaded swage fitting, the threaded swage fitting including a threaded member, the threaded member being sized to fit through the bottom opening, the threaded swage fitting having a flat surface, the nut in threaded engagement with the threaded member. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16  wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a bottom cable fitting further comprising a shank member, the shank member having a square outer shape and each of the plurality of bottom through holes is square shaped. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 16  wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is a portion of a bottom cable fitting further comprising a shank member, the shank member being integral with a threaded member. 
     
     
       22. A vertical cable rail panel, comprising:
 a top rail comprising a top web member defining a plurality of top through holes spaced apart along the top web member and the top rail having a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end; 
 a bottom rail defining a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end, the bottom rail comprising a bottom web portion and a pair of bottom leg portions, the bottom web portion and the pair of bottom leg portions forming a channel, the bottom web portion defining a plurality of bottom through holes spaced apart along the bottom web portion and aligned with the plurality of top through holes; 
 an internal member disposed within the channel and defining a bearing surface spaced apart from the bottom web portion and further defining a bottom opening having at least one flat side, the internal member being secured to inner surfaces of the channel; 
 a rigid support member vertically extending between the top rail and the bottom rail and disposed between the first end of the top rail and the second end of the top rail; 
 a vertical cable comprising a cable member, a top hollow tubular member, and a bottom hollow tubular member, the vertical cable disposed adjacent the rigid support member and having a top end and a bottom end disposed opposite the top end, the top end of the vertical cable extending through one of the plurality of top through holes, and the bottom end of the vertical cable extending through the bottom opening and extending through one of the plurality of bottom through holes disposed in vertical alignment with the one top through hole; 
 wherein the top hollow tubular member is swaged to the cable member and at least a portion of the top hollow tubular member being larger in size than the one top through hole such that the vertical cable is maintained through the one top through hole; 
 wherein the bottom hollow tubular member is swaged to the cable member; 
 a nut coupled to the bottom hollow tubular member, the nut being larger in size than the bottom opening, wherein adjusting the nut adjusts a tension in the vertical cable, a bearing surface of the nut contacting the bearing surface of the internal member; 
 wherein each of the first and second ends of the top rail and the bottom rail are configured to be received by respective brackets; and 
 wherein the top rail, the bottom rail, the rigid support member, and the vertical cable are assembled into a panel before delivery to a job site.